Best known as the Opportunity Expert based on my proprietary leadership methodology called, "the immigrant’s perspective” that defines the characteristics to be a 21st century leader. This methodology promotes the idea of leading through a lens of opportunity – that is enabled through a mindset of continuous survival, renewal and reinvention. That if leaders embrace the immigrant’s perspective, they will have a distinct advantage in business by being able to see and seize previously unseen opportunities, and opportunities others don’t see at all. I am a former C-suite corporate executive and entrepreneur of several successful companies – my firm (Glenn Llopis Group) is a thought-leadership, human capital and business strategy consultancy. We enable corporations to develop their leadership identity to further define and implement go-to-market strategies. Most of my writings, speaking engagements and consulting assignments focus on leadership, change management, Hispanics in America, career advancement, marketing diversity management, entrepreneurship, business development and turn-around operations. I am the author of Earning Serendipity: 4 Skills for Creating and Sustaining Good Fortune in Your Work; Why a Personal Employee Brand will Save Your Career and Your Workplace, Preparing U.S. Leadership for the Cultural Demographic Shift, Awakening the Latino Factor and Women Must Dive In, Not Just Lean In. I make frequent appearances on local and national TV, including CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, and Univision. Circle me on Google+

The 12 Things That Successfully Convert a Great Idea Into a Reality

How many times have you been in a meeting and someone says to you, “That’s a great idea, you should take the initiative and make it a reality.” What typically happens? Most of the time – nothing. Most great ideas remain dormant because people don’t have the courage, resources, time and/or money to take action. And for those who take action, most are unprepared and thus find themselves spending their valuable time and money on a dream that simply goes astray.

Converting an idea into a reality (regardless of the required investment of time and money) is never an easy task. In fact, it is extremely difficult. Whether you are an entrepreneur or corporate executive, “giving ideas life” is much like giving birth to a child. You must own the responsibility regardless of the circumstances. No one will ever understand your idea or the dynamics associated with it like you do. In this regard, you are on your own and the journey will require you to learn about yourself – more than anything else will in your career.

As the old saying goes, “If it were easy – everyone would do it.”

Many articles have been written about this subject, but I have yet to read one that really digs deep enough to help one truly understand what is required mentality, physically and intellectually to go from idea to reality. Perhaps it’s because the process of cultivating an idea into a reality is a never ending cycle if you want to keep the idea alive over changing times. For example, we see this all the time with companies based on great ideas that then did not remain innovative and/or competitive enough to sustain their market leadership positions. Let’s face it, Blockbuster should have thought of the ideas behind Netflix and Redbox – and made them a reality – well before these two companies became their competitors.

Today’s fiercely competitive marketplace requires us all to either convert our own ideas – or be a part of converting someone else’s ideas – into a reality. If you are not participating in either of these activities, you must re-evaluate your purpose, what you stand for and your desire to be relevant. Everyone must be a part of cultivating innovation around the clock. You must begin to accept that embracing the entrepreneurial attitude is a requirement to cultivate growth and opportunity for the organization you lead and serve.

Entrepreneurship is no longer just a business term anymore; it’s a way of life. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur to be entrepreneurial.

Did you ever think that not being involved in innovative activities was irresponsible? Well, it is – not just to yourself, but to those around you.

As you think about how you can begin to embrace the entrepreneurial attitude more actively, here are 12 things you must actively do – at all times – in order to convert ideas into reality:

1. Believe in Yourself

You can’t take action until you believe in yourself enough to handle the consequences of your decisions. Any time you assume the responsibility to give something that had not existed before an opportunity to become a reality – you become accountable for your actions.

Accountability requires believing in yourself enough to be 100% dedicated to getting the work done. Most people fail to take an idea to fruition because the unexpected challenges become more than they think they can handle and thus they no longer want to be accountable. They lose the belief in themselves to see things through all the way to the end.

2. Create Your Own Personal Board of Advisors

Learn from those who have done it before. Don’t ever think you have all of the answers, just because it’s your idea. Ideation is distinctly different than execution.

Allow your personal board of advisors to guide you with wisdom born from their own failures and subsequent successes. I talked to a couple of fellow entrepreneurs about this and they offered some of their own wisdom.

Rich Melcombe, President & CEO of Richmel Media & Productions, says that: “If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, listen to everyone because you never know when you will hear a good idea. Advice from stakeholders is usually more meaningful, but not necessarily right. Few people will have enough context to fully understand what you’re trying to do. Synthesize their comments so they make sense to you, understand the thinking behind any negative comments, and then make the decision on your own.”

Brad Lea, Founder & CEO of Lightspeed VT, adds: “Although it is valuable to have a personal board of advisors, be careful not to let them deter you from your vision. Steve Jobs’ board said he was “crazy” to enter into the cell phone space because it was saturated and it would not be worth the long and laborious effort.”

Risk becomes your best friend when you give birth to an idea. If you can accept this fact, you will approach the process with a lens that keeps your dreams and ambitions in perspective and on track. When things don’t go as planned along the way, stay focused on the mission at hand and do not allow disruption to set you backward. Risk is normal and steps #1 and #2 will keep you looking forward.

You often hear that “working hard” is an imperative to convert ideas into reality. But in fact, it is the most fundamental commitment one must make to assume any form of risk management. As such, you must find a way to make this level of commitment if you want to continue on the journey.

4. Be Extremely Patient

Compromise is a choice, not a sacrifice. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Take the time to appreciate the journey and understand how things work. Most people are too anxious to get their desired results and thus start to make bad decisions as they go.

Converting your idea to a reality requires you to help others understand your vision. Selling vision is much like selling change. Clearly define your value proposition and how it can generate revenue. Selling lofty ideas without understanding how it will achieve financial results will never get you the right audience. The bottom line is what gets everyone’s attention (you can see this played out every week on the TV show “Shark Tank”).

Simplicity is the key to selling the vision for your idea. Making it easy for someone on the “outside” to understand what you are trying to accomplish will create engagement and increase your probability of expanding buy-in for your idea. This skill comes into play when selling to possible investors. Learn how to sell your vision sooner than later. Don’t wait as it takes time to piece together and refine your message.

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Agreed, great and grounded article, and with the Due Diligence as an anchor, power post. Ironically, just finished reviewing a biz plan for a profit / nonprofit cooperative start-up, and the financial due diligence and confirming everyone’s ‘best intentions’ is all that stands between this opportunity’s idea and execution. The checklist items from the article are all there, and I wish them and all entrepreneurs the best.

Thank you Debbie! Fear and impatience are very normal. Belief and focus will help you overcome them. I realize it’s easier said than done. Be 100% committed and you will prevail. Thanks again for your contribution to this important conversation.

The author is right,mind keeps on spinning ideas whereby the same can formulate into realities! But the problem lies elsewhere.A person might be having thousands of innovative ideas but he lacks the sense of executing the same into a practical shape of his object.It is like one-way traffic,people getting ideas but fail at executing them,and for that reason,help of skillful people is needed who could be expected to execute the same for him.His ideas could be sold through the hands of experts who possess entrepreneurship,money and workforce to turn those ideas into realities.Henry Ford is remembered for his innovative ideas which led to a faster pace of turning cars out in the market.Addison is remembered for his ideas of showing light through containing electricity in bulbs,and the scientists after Addison,have developed much more in the field of electrical appliances,and the pace of innovative-ideas in this behalf keeps on developing stuff to benefit the mankind,and the same is also helping entrepreuners to gain profits.Ideas have no limits,not even the sky could be a limit for the same:It’s here that advjective fails when they say-”sky is the limit”! Flight of imagination needs no visa or a passport to reach or explore any depth.Unfortunately,a proponent of an idea might not be able to execute it-just look at poor Vincent Van Gough’s story,his ideas could capture pictures revealed through his skilful hands onto an easel,but he didn’t know how to sell them! If Vincent could have sold his idealistic paintings during his lifetime,he could not have committed suicide which was caused due to the depression of hunger and poverty.Now,his paintings get a world-wide auctions and go for milns even,though he couldn’t sell one to earn his livelihood!So,one needs atleast two-individuals,one to possess ideas,and another to practically help him by putting the same into reality,through expert methods of execution.

As a 26 year old entrepreneur who just up and quit a career over a year and a half ago, I’ve been experiencing all of these trials, situations, and head games. So to have this insight and boost of confidence in an article is refreshing! Coming from the midwest trying to be a part of a tech startup that want’s to change the world is pretty rough so this was well needed and appreciated!

This article, like many on Forbes, was so inspiring! Im only 18 an i’m looking at creating my first mobile application for iOS. It will take a lot of time, effort and money (scholarship money that is supposed to be used for uni!) but it will be done hopefully by mid this year. This website has really helped me with my motivation especially when the articles are so informative and optimistic. Thanks so much Glenn (:

Thanks for sharing this information. it will help me in the process of converting some of my ideas into reality. Your article gave me a broader vision and will certainly help me throughout the process. It is very useful and worthy to me to read again, and again.